Rim for infants&#39; cups



Dec. 24, 1940. m. B. SMITH 2,226,146

RIM FOR INFANTS CUPS Filed 'Juns 15, 1939 l N VE NTO R Mewsmzrfl. 5mm

ATI'ORNEY Patented Dec. 24, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention refers to an adaptable rim for an infants training cup of rigid material whose object is to facilitate transition from the soft flexible nursing bottle nipple to the rigid drinking cup or vessel. It is also an object of this invention to provide a means easily adaptable to any conventional rigid drinking vessel, glass, cup, or the like, for keeping the mouth of a drinking infant from biting the rigid edge of such vessel. Thus, any splintering or breaking of the drinking glass or cup edge may be avoided and, moreover, the infants soft jaws and gums may be saved from any deformation or its growing teeth from any harm.

It is a further object of this invention to provide for an infants training cup of rigid material, such as glass, china, metal, or the like, a soft flexible elastic rim, adapted to be seated upon the edge of the cup and to project therefrom upwardly for .a height suflicient to keep, under normal conditions, an infant's mouth from biting the rigid cup edge.

It is a further object of this invention to provide at that rim gripping means for securing its seat with relation to the cup, drinking glass, or the like, in addition to the elastic seat of the rim.

Other objects of the invention and further details may be seen from the following description and the appended drawing.

In the drawing afiixed hereto and forming part of the specification, I have illustrated the invention as embodied in some examples. It will be readily understood, however, that other embodiments of my invention are feasible without departing from the spirit and scope of my appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a drinking glass with a rim, the rim having a holding band or strap,

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a drinking glass with another modification of the rim, the rim showing in its base section a number of suction cups,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a drinking glass with still another modification of the rim, the rim having at its base section downwardly presented tongues with a suction cup each,

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the rim taken on line 55 of Fig. 4,

Referring to the figures, II is a conventional drinking glass. The rim, generally designated by I2, consists of a lower or base section I3 encircling the rigid edge of the drinking glass or cup, of an upper or top section I5 presented upwardly from the top edge, around the edge of the glass or cup, to a height sufficient to keep, under normal conditions, the infants mouth from biting the edge of the glass or cup. This height may be about one inch, for instance.

An inwardly protruding reenforcement flange I6 may be arranged at the top of the rim for keeping the soft rim in shape,

Between both sections, I3, I5, a radially extended seat I4 is provided by means of which seat the rim is positioned in a definite position on the drinking glass or cup edge.

The rim is secured on top of the glass or cup by means of the gripping means shown in Figs. 1 to 4.

In the arrangement shown in- Fig. 1 the base section I3 of the rim is provided with a holding band or strap 20 which is extended at both sides, in this instance diametrically, over the outer wall and across the bottom of the glass or cup.

Securing of the rim to the cup or glass may also be effected by suction cups I8 arranged in the base section of the rim (Fig. 2), or by suction cups 22 arranged on tongues 2I downwardly presented from the base section of the rim (Figs. 3 and i). Any of the tongues 2| may simultaneously serve as a handle to put the rim upon the glass or cup or to take it off from it.

Such a handle might also be provided otherwise at this or the other embodiments of the invention.

The rim is preferably made of soft rubber, sufficiently tough so that the infant may not tear or bite pieces off. It may be produced in any convenient way by molding, dipping, or the like.

The rim may be cleaned easily or sterilized together with the glass or cup or, when detachable, separately.

When using a detachable rim, it will be placed in position by putting it over the glass or cup edge unto its seat and pulling the holding band or strap over the glass or cup bottom or by pressing down the suction cups, respectively. If no specific securing means are provided, the air layer between rim and glass or cup may be driven out by striking the rim appropriately.

The rim, as pointed out above, is useful in facilitating the education of an infant to the use of a conventional drinking vessel and will shorten the period during which the infant uses a nursing bottle and thus help in avoiding deformities of the jaws from prolonged feeding from the nipple. The rim furthermore provides an innocuous surface on which the infant may bite during the teething period.

While the rim is primarily designed for the use of infants, it may be extended for the use of those who suffer from infections about the mouth, those who are receiving extensive dental treatment and for the use of the feeble and edentulous.

I claim:

1. A soft elastic rim for an infants training cup, said cup being of rigid material, said rim including a base section for completely encircling the edge of said cup, said base section being provided with a holding band adapted to be extended at both sides over the outer wall and across the bottom of said rim, said rim further including a top section projecting upwardly from said cup edge on its whole circumference, and, between said sections, a radially extended seat for positioning said rim upon said cup edge.

2. A soft elastic rim for an infants training cup, said cup being of rigid material, said rim including a base section for completely encircling the edge of said cup, said base section being provided with suction cups for securing said base section to the wall of said cup, said rim further including a top section projecting upwardly from said cup edge on its whole circumference, and, between said sections, a radially extended seat for positioning said rim upon said cup edge.

3. A soft elastic rim for an infants training cup, said cup being of rigid material, said rim including a base section for completely encircling the edge of said cup, said base section being provided with at least one downwardly presented tongue having at least one suction cup for securing said base section to the wall of said cup, said rim further including a top section projecting upwardly from said cup edge on its whole circumference, and, between said sections, a radially extended seat for positioning said rim upon said cup edge.

4. In a soft elastic rim for an infants training cup, said cup being of rigid material, the combination with a base section for completely encircling the edge of said cup, a top section projecting upwardly from said cup edge on its whole circumference and, between said sections, a radially extended seat for positioning said rim upon said cup edge, of gripping elements protruding from said base section for securing said rim to said cup in addition to the elastic seat of said base section, said rim for the purpose of keeping an infants mouth from biting said rigid cup edge,

and to teach an infant to drink more easily from the cup.

MARGARET B. SMITH. 

